ILOILO City – The Iloilo-Batiano River Development Project won the coveted Galing Pook Award.
The city government’s entry to the 2018 Galing Pook Awards was the river rehabilitation project started in 2011.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III personally received the Galing Pook marker (award) and the prize – a check for P100,000.
“We have always included river development in our plans, tourism and environmental programs, business and trade projects, and similar initiatives. We love the Iloilo River. We want our young generation to enjoy its gift,” he said.
Espinosa cited the contributions of city government officials and employees to the project and stakeholders in the public and private sectors that included the academe.
The river development project (rehabilitation) started even years ago in collaboration with national government agencies, nongovernment organizations, academe, and civic society. Its immediate goal was to address siltation, water pollution, encroachment, illegal cutting of mangroves, and informal settlements along the Iloilo River.
“We want friends and visitors to marvel at its transformation and become a testament to the resiliency of Iloilo City,” said Espinosa.
The river development project benefitted – in terms of improved health, ecological sustainability, and sense of security and liveability – over 50,000 residents in 35 barangays living along the Iloilo River.
It was also successful in the relocation of informal settlers along the river banks as well as removal of fish pens which resulted in increased fish population, prevention of soil erosion, and preservation of Iloilo River mangroves’ high biodiversity index.
The river hosts several mangrove species endemic to the area.
The national government also helped fund a flood control project which paved way for the establishment of Iloilo Esplanade at the Iloilo River, the longest walkway in the country.
Now on its 25th year, the Galing Pook Awards selects the best local governance practices and shares information on these beneficial programs for replication.
Aside from Iloilo City, nine other local government untis out of 19 program finalists across the country received the Galing Pook Awards from Vice President Leni Robredo in fitting ceremonies at Novotel Manila, Araneta Center in Quezon City on Oct. 11.
The awards have cited some 319 programs from at least 200 local government units over the years, including this year’s winners, judging them on their positive results and impacts, their empowerment of the people, transferability and sustainability, innovation, and efficiency of their program service delivery.
Other awardees this year were Bindoy, Negros Occidental; Cagayan de Oro City; Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte; Loboc, Bohol; Naga City; Navotas City; San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; Taguc City, Davao del Norte; and Valenzuela City./PN
